Limousin lead the way at March Kilkenny Bull sale

Kilkenny Agricultural Society Limited held their 99th Annual Bull Show and Sale on Wednesday the 16th March 2016 at Kilkenny Co-Op Livestock Market, Cillín Hill, Kilkenny. This sale had bulls from seven different breeds – Hereford, Friesian, Simmental, Aberdeen Angus, Charolais and Limousin. Twenty-eight Limousin bulls were catalogued resulting in 22 being sold – 79% clearance, with a price range from a top of €4,300 down to €2,000, a big increase on 2015 when there was a 58% clearance rate and a price range from €3,200 to €2,000. Limousin led the way with both the highest clearance rate and the highest average prices.

Auctioneer at this sale was George Candler, while tasked with the judging duties of the Limousin section was Michael Fox, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

A Roundhill Saturn (RHN) son “Beechmount Jupiter” claimed the second highest price of €4,150. Jupiter was bred in Callan, Co. Kilkenny by Geraldine Collins. He came to the ring with a five star Terminal Index of €131 and a five star Replacement index of €113. Jupiter’s dam Beechmount Cindy has Malibu and Highlander in her back-pedigree. After a flurry of bids he was acquired by George Corrigan, Ballon, Co. Carlow.

The highly regarded Thomastown herd of John Downey, Co. Kilkenny presented two bulls for sale. “Thomastown Jeremy” an October ’14 born On-Dit (ONI) son commanded a price of €4,100. Jeremy has five star ratings in Terminal Index (€145), Replacement Index (€149), Carcass weight, Carcass conformation and Daughter milk. His dam Thomastown Gretta is a daughter of Usted. Jeremy was purchased by James Keegan, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois.

Thomas O’Shea, Rathdowney, Co. Laois sold “Templequain Jameson” for €4,000. Jameson is a son of the society sire Armoric (S1367) and the homebred Fieldson Alfy daughter Templequain Gabrielle. Jameson has five star ratings in most traits including Terminal Index (€129). He was purchased by suckler farmer John Benn, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.

“Farmleigh Jet” a multi-starred Malibu (MBU) son commanded a price of €3,500. Jet was bred in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford by Thomas Swaine. Jet has a Terminal Index value of €136 and a Replacement Index value of €112. His dam is a homebred Carmorn Eurostar daughter – Farmleigh Honey Penny. Jet was purchased by Tom Cody, Knocktopher, Co, Kilkenny.

Bobby Jones, Skerries, Co. Dublin sold “Bremore J 525” for €3,500. J 525 is a son of the Bremore herd sire Hortensia and Adeline. Hortensia has Erable and Achille in his lineage, while Adeline has Silex and Jersey in her back-pedigree. J 525 has five star ratings in most traits. He was purchased by Thomas Murphy, Durrow, Co. Laois.

Eamon Fitzgerald, Burncourt, Cahir, Co. Tipperary sold “Coolroe Jimmy” for €3,200. Jimmy has a five star Terminal Index value of €125 and a five star Replacement Index of €128. His sire stack includes Pacha 08, Tehix and Litron. Jimmy was acquired by Martin Freaney, Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny.

The second bull sold by John Downey “Thomastown Jackson”, a Loosebeare Fantastic (S1497) son, commanded a selling price of €3,100. Jackson is out of Thomastown Darling, a homebred cow with Genial and Epson in her lineage. This 19 month old bull has a Terminal Index value of €127 and a Replacement Index value of €82. He has a muscle score of 117 and a skeletal score of 118. Kilkenny based John and Pascal Lawlor, Mullinavat secured Jackson.

Geraldine Collins, Callan, Co. Kilkenny sold her second bull “Beechmount Jenkins” for €3100. Jenkins boasts an array full of five star ratings – Docility, Carcass weight, Carcass confirmation, Daughter calving interval as well as a five star Terminal index of €146 and a five star Replacement index of €128. Jenkins has a Wilodge Tonka dam, Milan Genette and his sire is Ampertaine Commander (APM). Jenkins was purchased by Eamon Fitzgerald from Cahir, Co. Tipperary.

€2,650 was top-call for “Farmleigh Jim Bob” an Ampertaine Commander (APM) son from the yard of Tom Swaine, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Jim Bob has a Muscle score of 133 and a Skeletal score of 114. He also has five star Terminal Index (€140) and five star Replacement Index (€96). Jim Bob was purchased by Tomas Kirwan, Portlaw, Co. Waterford.

Four bulls sold for €2,500. First of these was the multi-starred Roundhill Saturn (RHN) son, “Dangan Joker”. Joke was bred by Michael Mahony, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. Joker was acquired by Michael Bowden, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny.

Also selling at €2,500 was the Emerson (S1052) son “Parkhill Joe”. This September 2014 born bull was bred in Ballyfoyle, Co. Kilkenny by Joe Maher. Anthony Dorgan, Mallow, Co. Cork acquired Parkhill Joe.

Tullow, Co. Carlow based David Kennedy acquired “Ardlea Jethro” from Dan Tynan, Mountrath, Co. Laois for €2,500. Jethro is a son of Henzo and the Eros daughter Ardlea Gemini.

“Elite Ken Et” sold for €2,400 to Paul Fleming, Holycross, Co. Tipperary. Ken has Emerson (S1052) and Coppertop Frankie in his lineage. He was offered for sale by Dan Tynan, Mountrath, Co. Laois.

Cillín Hill hosts three bull sales every year, the next sale is on Wednesday, 13th April. Entries are closed for this sale. Entries will close on April 15th for the May sale which will take place on Wednesday the 18th May.

The Irish Limousin Cattle Society will host part of the International Limousin Congress in the environs of Cillín Hill: Friday August 26th sees the National Limousin show incorporating both Pedigree and Commercial cattle, while on Saturday August 27th the Parade of Champions, Elite Sale, Anglo Irish YMA and Gala Banquet will take place.